Saving Lives
Changing Lives

In Palestine, protracted conflict, economic stagnation and restricted trade and access to resources, coupled with high unemployment and poverty rates, continue to pose serious challenges to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger, food security and improved nutrition.   

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, nearly one third of the population – 32.7 percent, or 1.6 million people – could not afford nutritious food. Food insecurity is high among women – 32 percent of families headed by women are food insecure – particularly in the Gaza Strip, where it is 54 percent.

Poorly diversified diets are causing overlapping nutritional problems. According to national surveys, nearly 50 percent of those assessed had very low levels of essential minerals and vitamins.

The humanitarian conditions in Gaza – where poverty and food insecurity affect 53 percent and 68.5 of the population respectively – are alarming, and follow the collapse of all productive sectors, basic social services and infrastructures. Gaza’s socioeconomic fabric is faltering due to the cumulative impact of 12 years of sea, land and air blockade. Movement restrictions associated with COVID-19 have further increased vulnerabilities.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Palestine since 1991, providing food assistance to the most vulnerable non-refugee populations and technical expertise to ministries and other partners. WFP supports government efforts to combat poverty, including through inclusive social protection schemes. WFP focuses its activities on areas with a high prevalence of food insecurity, including the Gaza Strip and the southern areas of the West Bank.

Responding to increased needs due to COVID-19, WFP has expanded its assistance to entire areas of the West Bank, providing food assistance to highly vulnerable non-refugees who may also have lost of their fragile and limited livelihoods. To further strengthen the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, WFP is providing climate-smart agricultural assets such as hydroponics and wicking beds to households to increase their calorie intake and enable them to generate income.

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Palestine

COVID-19 response

The COVID-19 crisis is having a damaging impact on an already constrained economy, making the lives of the Palestinian people even more challenging. Hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their jobs and livelihoods. Women, children, elderly people and those with disabilities are among the most affected and in need of humanitarian assistance, including nutritious and healthy food.

Food assistance

WFP provides the poorest and most severely food insecure non-refugee populations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank with unconditional food assistance – predominantly in the form of electronic vouchers which people can use to buy food of their choice – and nutrition education to reduce vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Capacity strengthening

WFP works with national institutions to enhance the capacity of social safety nets to assist poor and vulnerable people, and engages in new partnerships with the Government, other UN agencies and NGO partners around the use and further development of WFP’s voucher platform, which transfers assistance through an electronic card. The platform has proved to be an efficient, flexible and cost-effective tool, and has been made available to several partners.

Publications

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in the State of Palestine is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Canada European Union (ECHO) France Germany Japan

Operations in Palestine

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Contacts

Office

c/o UNDP/PAPP 4A Yakubi Street, PO BOX 51359 Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem
Palestinian Territories

Phone
+972 (0)2 5401340/1/2
Fax
+972 (0)2 5401227
Email
info.wfppal@wfp.org
For media inquiries
info.wfppal@wfp.org
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